Shane Bond

Shane Bond has been the find of the century for the New Zealand Cricket Team, as he has destroyed Australia in the VB series 18 months ago, and looks like to continue to play a huge role in the success of the New Zealand Cricket Team.

He has now got Ricky Ponting all six times they have met in One Day cricket between the two sides, making Ricky Ponting, Shane Bonds "bunny" batsman.

He is up there with the quickest, and can bowl in the mid 150 km per hour mark. That is about the same speed as extreme pacers of Shoaib Akhtar, Pakistan, and Brett Lee of Australia.

Shane Bond has been the find of the century for the New Zealand Cricket Team

If you're talking about this century (2000-2100) well it just may be early to say, considering were in early 2003.

As for last century, well I think Hadlee might have something to say about that.

Seriously, there's no doubting he's a sensational bowler. He has pace (more than Hadlee ever had), accuracy and movement. Plush he has quite an awkward trajectory. He's definately reminicent of Hadlee in his action and trajectory (as well as his propensity to keep the ball full) but he just needs to remember to keep the ball well up in Tests. For mine, his length is a little short to take consistent wickets in Tests. Once he figures that one out, he may be one of the greats

Another cloud on the horizon; injury. Within the next year, I reckon we may see Bond with stress fractures in his lower back. Sure he's bowling quickly but when he really tries to let go, his back twists as he leans over to try for that extra pace. If he doesn't change it soon, he might just be out of the NZ side with an injury like this.

Akhtar, yes but Lee, no way. Lee has had stress fractures three times in his career thusfar and has had to remedy his action to even play today. His action these days is primarily front-on and is as smooth and co-ordinated as any action you'll see.

As I said, Bond's action is strong but that slight lean he has will cause him problems.

Originally posted by Tim who never breaks down & takes wickets as consistently as he does and at an economical rate

Ahhh....Walsh and Ambrose.......

Sreesanth said, "Next ball he was beaten and I said, 'is this the King Charles Lara? Who is this impostor, moving around nervously? I should have kept my mouth shut for the next ball - mind you, it was a length ball - Lara just pulled it over the church beyond the boundary! He is a true legend."